NFL: Fierce Ravens defense denies Dolphins

RUN AGROUND: The Dolphins last year clawed their way to the top of the competitive AFC East division, but they had no answer for the Ravens’ stifling defense

AFP , MIAMI

Brian Westbrook of the Philadelphia Eagles carries the ball for a 71-yard touchdown as Fred Evans, center, and Chad Greenway of the Minnesota Vikings defend during the NFC Wild Card playoff game on Sunday at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Eagles defeated the Vikings 26-14.

PHOTO: AFP

Baltimore’s fearsome defense denied Miami another chapter in their storybook National Football League season on Sunday as the Ravens defeated the Dolphins 27-9 in a National Football League playoff game.

Ed Reed returned an interception for a touchdown and the Ravens pressured quarterback Chad Pennington and the Dolphins into a string of turnovers en route to a dominant victory in the American Conference first-round contest.

Baltimore intercepted Pennington four times — more than half his regular-season total of seven.

Le’Ron McClain had an eight-yard scoring run and Matt Stover kicked two field goals for the Ravens, who earned a trip to American Conference top seeds Tennessee on Saturday.

The Dolphins had won the competitive AFC East division in a dramatic turnaround from a miserable 1-15 campaign in 2007.

But they had no answer for the Ravens’ stifling defense, which has held an opponent to 13 points or fewer 11 times this season.

The Dolphins committed a league-low 13 turnovers during the regular season, but had five against the Ravens.